Page 12 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • December 8, 2010 Emmanuel asks... Can You Help? Our hat’s off to: Duxianna of Ridgewood and The Stable Restaurant of Ridgewood for their support of our upcoming fundraiser, A Hollywood Bash. Thanks to the Girl Scout troops of Waldwick for collecting food for us at their recent square dance event! We also thank Woodside Elementary School in Franklin Lakes for bringing gift cards for our families. Thank you to the many generous people who walk in our doors. Whether you are dropping off a birthday bag for a family, making a food donation, volunteering to drive, or starting your own fundraiser, I 4-29-09 karen/janine cannot say thank you enough! The local EmmanuelHelp3x.75(4-29-09) community is simply amazing and we truly appreciate your help. We know our families 3 x .75 do, too. Thank you to everyone that has called to adopt a family for the holidays and who made a Thanksgiving basket! You are making a difference for a family in crisis this holiday season. Thanks to the wonderful people who brought us a toy box, a guitar, and many other things we requested. Celebrate with us! We are getting ready for our biggest fundraiser ever. On Jan. 8, 2011, the Northern Regional Center will host A Hollywood Bash at the Woman’s Club of Ridgewood. The evening will include a live band, food, drinks, an auction, and other surprises. Come and get treated like a star. We need your help: Can your company, store, or restaurant donate something toward our event? How about dinner for two or a manicure/pedicure? Do you own season tickets? Are you computer savvy? Can you help us put a program together? Proceeds from this event will be used to assist families in the northern region. If you are interested in volunteering your time or donating an item, call Laura Savage at (201) 612-8118 or e-mail laura@emmanuelcancer.org. Franklin Lakes Baptist Church 649 Franklin Avenue • Franklin Lakes (corner of Franklin Ave. & Summit Ave.) Christmas Concert December 19, 2010 at 11:00 am “Christmas is Jesus” Directed by David Horn Christmas Eve Candlelight Carol Service December 24, 2010 at 6:00 pm Pastor Matt Carpenter • (201) The Public is Cordially Invited 891-3253 • website: www.flbc.org A caseworker’s experience (from ECF Regional Director Laura Savage): Before I moved into the regional director’s position, I worked here a caseworker for three years. In that role, I primarily visited the families in their homes, but sometimes the visits took place in hospitals and clinics. Most of our families do not have the support of their local community. It is the exception that families are lucky to have local fundraisers to help them through their crisis. Most do not live in a community where meals are delivered from neighbors and local stores collect change. The majority of our families consist of two working parents whose lives are completely turned upside down when their child is diagnosed with cancer. This is because many were struggling financially before cancer entered their lives. The families I have worked with are incredible. They somehow make it work; they have to. They are so appreciative of everything we do for them. They are so happy to have a caseworker come to their house to visit and talk with them. Gift cards, groceries, birthday and holiday gifts, and the counseling the family receives are vital. The kids are just amazing and all are so grateful. When ECF receives funding, the contributions are used to provide free services to any child in New Jersey who has cancer. Our services are provided at no cost. Approximately 70 cents from every dollar goes towards direct care for our families. It’s hard to do all the fundraising ourselves, and that is why we get so excited when someone helps us along the way. These articles have resulted in families receiving so much: from a new roof for one family so they could bring their boy home, to tires for another so they could take their child to treatments, to a princess bed, a gift card, and an art easel to ease Sophia’s journey. If the family’s life is too hectic to write a thank you, we still hear from our caseworkers and volunteers how thrilled they are. Thank you, and please continue to help us help these deserving families. Help a family for the holidays: We are looking for Santa drivers to deliver holiday gifts to our families in Bergen, Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties. Please volunteer to spend a few hours dropping off some gifts. You will need proof of a current background check, or we can help you get one. How about preparing a holiday basket for one of our families? You pick the trimmings A couple stopped in last week with a huge basket, complete with candles and a tablecloth, and the family was thrilled to receive it! A special request: The administrative offices of the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation, located in Scotch Plains, oversee the management of this and three other regional centers, along with all of the caseworkers and the overall functioning of the organization. About a month ago, their server died, leaving all the employees in a state of immobilization, with filter-down effects on all of us. They are in need of funding for a new server, which will cost around $2,000. If you can help, or know someone who can, please contact ECF’s managing director at carold@emmanuelcancer.org. You can help in a variety of ways. Turn your next event into a fundraiser by collecting checks or gift cards to be donated to ECF, or donate your restaurant or business for a few hours to host a fundraiser of your choice. Your efforts will help us to send a caseworker to visit the families at their home or in the hospital. This support for the kids, their siblings, and parents is crucial. We are also available to come speak at your fundraiser or event and talk about our programs. Get your kids involved. Some have held bake sales, yard sales, or had hot chocolate stands. Is your Cub Scout or Girl Scout Troop looking to earn badges? Scouts can have fun helping ECF while learning about philanthropy. Your food donations or grocery gift cards also help support ECF’s food pantry, which helps feed many families in this area. We rely on our local community to help support our families. Many of them do not have the financial or emotional support to help them get through a major illness like cancer. Please remember that we do not charge anything for our services. We rely on you. If you have a few hours a week to spare, consider becoming a volunteer or just stop by and meet with us, and see what ECF is all about. Volunteers are welcome to assist on Monday from 10 to 1, Wednesday from 1 to 4, and all day on Friday. Call us at (201) 612-8118 before you stop by. Please do not leave items at the center without checking with us first. Our storage space is limited. The Northern Regional Center is located at 174 Paterson Avenue, Midland Park, NJ 07432. Visit us online at www.emmanuelcancer.org. As always, thank you for helping the children and their families! Championship Golf, Tennis, No Crowds On Fripp Island, South Carolina 12-8-10 Pat From Janine FLBC_Holiday3x4(12-8-10) 3 col x 4” FOR RENT Break the Highway Trend! ...not your community’s back. Local businesses are the backbone of your community and the trend to shop the big guys on the highway hurts us all.Your local businesses have what you want... at the right price... and close to home. So, why hassle with the highways? Waterfront house on Fripp Island, SC (near historic Beaufort and Parris Island). Ranch style with extended large deck overlooking the ocean and own beach access, screened porch, 4 BR, 2½ baths, full kitchen, great room with fireplace. 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